China deploys J-16s to Egypt in first African exercise, tests long-range power projection

Six Chinese J-16 fighter jets conducted a first-ever deployment to Africa for a joint exercise in Egypt, flying 6,000 km in nine hours with aerial refueling and training against French-built Rafales. The move signals expanding Chinese military reach and power-projection capability beyond its immediate periphery, though its strategic intent remains debated. Analysts view it as part of a decades-long effort to build influence in Africa, but the exercise's scale and follow-on implications are still emerging.